Tripod



P. N. SITTON March 22, 1949.

TRIPOD Filed Nov. 7, 1945 ATTORNEYS .o W W n, 0 WIR J M ..05 RW J \\7 l 0U 2 Y Tl W I Y] i N S :nw E al f. I I WN .cc f AVN. W. W Y m l/ 0 5 P 0 l Y fl.` B *l i v'rf Ao G. 3 l', uw .,l. I 7 7 6 F .D l I 0 l b 2 I 2,3 7 7 b l I I I l www 7 ,N I a nIv M m .m b \\\\\\\n. mf I wl um Y I Non lll Q a nT .IL-lin, Il C ll I 6 ...u W. a ZIM: I6 c 2 m11 2 u 8 Q D L D 6 Nfl/ll 2 H 8 H I ,o/W/ w 2 .b a //f/ a a. 3 75 7 /////H J 5 .lo I Il I HU/f, e. d w 2 n Il G fnl/.nf 7 F I F Patented Mar. 22, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TRIPOD Philip N. Sitton, Dayton, Ohio Application November 7, 1945, Serial No. 627,201

(Cl. 248--192l 3 Claims.

This invention relates to tripod supports, and particularly to improved means for increasing the rigidity of such supports.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved tripod supporting device that is sturdy and will support relatively heavy objects, and wherein the trip-od device is collapsible to provide for portability thereof.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved tripod head for a tripod supporting device.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an improved tripod head for a tripod supporting device wherein the tripod head consists of a concave or dished plate to increase the rigidity of support for the device.

Further objects and advantages will become apparent from the drawings and the following description.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective elevational View of the improved tripod device of this invention.

Figure 2 is a top elevational View of the improved head of the tripod device.

Figure 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the tripod device.

Figure 4 is a vertical cross-sectional view similar to Figure 3 of a slightly modied form of the tripod device.

In this invention the improved tripod device consists of a tripod head I that is composed of a hexagonal plate II having the edges II--a to II-f inclusive. A hinge bar I2 is provided adjacent the edge II-a of the tripod head I0, and corresponding hinge bars I2-a and I2--b are placed adjacent the edges II--c and II-e of the head I0. These hinge bars I2, I2-a and I2--b are preferably constructed as solid bar elements with a hole drilled through the same to receive the hinge pins I3, I3-a and I3-b respectively. However, the hinge bars I 2, I2-a and IZ-b may consist of a formed U-shaped metal member to receive the respective hinge pins. The hinge bars I2, I2-a and I2--b are suitably secured to the under side of the plate I I, such as by a welding operation.

The head I I is in the form of a concave plate, or dished plate, as illustrated in Figure 3, to increase the rigidity of the plate I I when supporting a heavy object. The concave cross-section of the plate II tends to triangulate the forces applied to the plate at the hinge connections I2, IZ-a and I2-b, thus increasing the rigidity of the tripod support.

Hinge links I5 are provided adjacent each end of the hinge bars, I2, I2-a and I2--b and have one end thereof pivotly connected to the hinge pins I3, I S-a and I3-b respectively. The op.- posite ends of the hinge links are connected to supporting legs I6, Iii-u. and IG-b associated with the hinge pins I2, I2-a and IZ-b respectively.

The hinge links I5 are secured to the legs I6, lE-a and IS-b by suitable fastening means such as the bolts I'I. The legs I6, I6--a and iG-b may be constructed of any material desired and in the instance illustrated in the drawing are constructed of Wood.

A chain or flexible line 20 is provided to encircle the legs I6, IE-a and I6--b, and is held in position upon the various legs by means of loop brackets 2l, 2 I--a and 2 I-b. The chain 20 thus prevents the legs I6, I-a and IS-b from spreading beyond a predetermined position.

The plate I I is provided with a central opening 25 therein that receives a support stud 26 therethrough. The stud 26 passes through an auxiliary plate 2'I that rests upon the hexagonal plate II. The stud 26 being provided with a pair of nuts 28 on the upper end thereof. The plate 2'! is also concave to conform to the shape of the plate II and thereby spread the load of the Stud 26 over a larger surface area of the plate II.

The stud 26 is provided with a loop 29 in the lower end thereof to receive a lifting hoist 30 of any suitable type for the purpose of lifting heavy objects.

In Figure 4 there is illustrated a slightly modied arrangement of the device just described in that the plate II--m is illustrated as a fiat plate instead of being a concave plate as illustrated in Figure 3. Insofar as other features of the tripod are concerned, the device illustrated in Figure 4 is constructed in the same manner as the device illustrated in Figures 1 to 3.

The particular construction of the tripod is such that it provides extreme rigidity and stability for the purpose of lifting heavy objects, and can be folded into a compact arrangement to provide portability of the tripod, thus in eiect the tripod provides a portable crane that can be used Wherever and Whenever desired.

While the apparatu-s disclosed and described herein constitutes a preferred form of the invention, yet it will be understood that the device is capable of modiflcation without departing from the spirit of the invention and that all modifications that fall within the scope of the appended claims are intended to be included herein.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A tripod support comprising in combination, a tripod head consisting of a hexagonal plate having equal sides, hinge bars, secured to alternate edges of said hexagonal plate, hinge pins in said hinge bars, leg means connected to said hinge pins,4 a flexible line carried by` said legs and encircling ythe -samewhen in extended position, and loop means supporting said iiexible line upon said legs at substantially the same distance from the hinge connections of said legs with said hinge bars.

2. A tripod supporting device whichl comprises in combination, a tripod head consisting of a multiple sided plate having certain sides thleof positioned equidistantly relative to one another, a hinge bar secured beneath said plate adjacent each of said equidistantly spaced edges, leg means pivotlypconnectedto each of said hinge bars,. a flexible; line encircling the outer periphery o1" saldi,` leg means when extended and positioned thereon equidistantly .from the hinge connections of v.saidlegs tovsaidplata-an auxiliary supporting plate ysupported 'upon said rst mentioned plate and means suspended from said auxiliary plate thrQggh-:thezaxisof said rstmentioned plate for supporting. a lifting;Y device, thereon.

3; Aftripodsupporting device which compri-ses in-combination, atripod .headconsisting of a multiple sidedy ,concavey plate havingcertain sides thereof positioned equidistantly relative, toone another, a hinge bar secured beneath said plate adjacent each of said equidistantly spaced edges, leg means pivotly connected to each of said hinge bars, a flexible line encircling the outer periphery of said leg means when extended and positioned thereon equidistantly from the hinge connections of said legs to said plate, an auxiliary plate supported upon said rst mentioned plate and extending radially equidistantly on diametrically opposite side'so-,the axis of saidV first mentioned plate to distribute a load carried by said auxiliary plate over a large area of said first mentioned plate, and means suspended from the axis of said auxiliary plate and passing through the axis of said first mentioned plate for supporting a lifting device thereon.

PHILIP N. SITTON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references arey of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS- Number Name, Date 955,140 Cronk\ Apr. 19, 1910 1,177,165 Akeley Mar. 28, 1916 1,240,119 Burns Sept. 11, 1917 1,361,469 Kingsbury Dec. 7, 1920 1,456,356` Bentley May- 22, 1923 1,598,943 Tessier Sept. 7, 1926 1,674,493 Adams June 19, 1928 1,794,726v Mitchell Mar. 3,' 1931 2,297,927v Whitman Oct, 6, 1942 

